On 25 August 2017, violence erupted in Rakhine State, Myanmar, triggering a massive and swift refugee influx into Bangladesh. Today, nearly 884,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar live in Bangladesh. Their arrival has taxed local communities and their resources, leading to growing inter-communal tensions. These displaced populations are concentrated in two Upazilas: Ukhla and Teknaf, putting immense strain on infrastructure, services, and the host population. Pre-existing settlements and camps have expanded with the new influx, while new spontaneous settlements have also formed and are quickly growing.

The Rohingya refugees are facing multifaceted insecurity: regarding their continued residence in Bangladesh, increasing rates of gender-based violence, and vulnerability from the impending monsoon season. Primary and secondary healthcare needs are high, in particular in managing high levels of trauma, communicable disease, and reproductive health needs. Women have reported high rates of gender-based violence (GBV) (even after crossing the border), including incidents of sexual abuse and violence.

Expected Results and Main Activities

• Emergency response fund: to be able to rapidly respond to emergency, to ensure readiness for quick action for weather and fire-related hazards, as well as disease outbreaks. To allow for the rapid distribution of food, shelter items, and non-food-items (NFIs).
• Innovative initiatives fund: to meet specific needs of refugees that may be unmet or difficult to fundraise for, because they are un-tested or not yet considered ‚critical‘ in the refugee camps.
• Safety and conflict reduction: to provide mitigating infrastructure and to mobilise community capacity to reduce GBV, violence and conflict within the camps and to extend emergency natal services to women at night by increasing access to medical facilities.
• Women’s Protection and Empowerment: to build the capacity and confidence of women, including leadership skills, and to inform them about their rights so they are more confident to demand or seek appropriate support and better able to organise themselves to develop their own protection strategies.
• Advocacy and communication: to increase women’s safety in camps through advocacy and communication. Hold media and awareness-raising events nationally and internationally. Create an advocacy plan and specific influencing actions on gender issues, including improving safety through electric grid introduction to camps, introduction of more female police and military officers, creation of extensive 24/7 police posts, and education of women and youth.
• Learning, knowledge management and research: to improve focus, quality and Gender in Emergency approaches, nationally and internationally, conduct focused reviews, research and learning.